Suzi, i have to exhaustion. Suzi, i have to apologise because we have to leave it there because we have had such a busy morning with the vaccine. This is bbc news with the latest headlines the uk becomes the first country in the world to approve a Coronavirus Vaccine. The Pfizer Biontech jab will be made available from next week. Well start with the most elderly, and with people in care homes, and of course their carers, to make sure that others dont catch it. The uk expects to have millions of doses of the Pfizer Vaccine against covid i9 available by the end of the year and the first 800,000 coming next week. If you have any questions on the vaccine rollout or the tier system which comes into force into england today, you can get in touch with me annitamcveigh or use the hashtag bbcyourquestions. England has returned to a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions,
after the National Lockdown ended at midnight. More than 55 Million People are living in the strictest two tiers. Non essential shops in england are set to reopen today. Businesses are hoping for a flood of customers to provide a much needed boost in the run up to christmas. People with relatives in care homes in england will be allowed to see them indoors from today. The government is distributing more than a million rapid tests so that families returning negative results can be cleared to visit. And grass roots sport resumes today with gyms, pools and leisure centres reopening. The uk has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer BiontechCoronavirus Vaccine with around 800,000 doses of the jab being made available as early as next week. The medicines regulator says the vaccine which offers up to 95 protection against coronavirus is safe to be rolled out. A0 million doses of the Pfizer Biontech have been pre ordered by the government. The vaccine is currently not available in the uk. The first supply of 800,000 vaccines will be sent from a pfizer laboratory in belgium. This will be enough to immunise 20 Million People with two shots of the vaccine which will be given 21 days apart. The Health Secretary says the first jabs will be prioritised to those most vulnerable to coronavirus, starting with care home residents and staff, followed by people aged over 80 and Health Care Workers. Around 50 hospitals are on standby ready to receive the vaccine
with Community Vaccination centres being established in venues such as conference centres. More details of when and where you might receive the vaccine will be given later this morning. Prime minister borisjohnson said that the protection from the vaccine would ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again. Speaking this morning, the Health Secretary matt hancock said todays landmark approval from the medicines regulator, the mhra, would help save lives. 2020 has been such a terrible year, hasnt it, and help is on its way. And this news, for so long weve been saying that if a vaccine is developed then things will get better in 2021, and now we can say when this vaccine is rolled out, things will get better, and we will start that process next week. Im obviously absolutely thrilled with the news and very proud that the uk is the first place in the world to have a clinically
authorised vaccine ready to go. Huge thanks to the scientists, to pfizer, the company. Obviously to my team and kate bingham, and alok sharma, the business secretary, who has done a huge amount of work on this. What it means for people is that from next week well be able to start rolling this out. Well start with those who are most vulnerable to coronavirus, and you need two jabs, 21 days apart. And after that we will start protecting people as the protection comes with these two jabs, and it will help save lives, and then, once weve started protecting the most vulnerable, it will help us all get back to normal and back to all the things that we love. 0ur health correspondent
naomi grimley is here. Actually, its our Health Editor hugh pym. The news we have been waiting on, a vaccine, with 800,000 doses of the jab available as early as next week. What more do we know about the roll out . As next week. What more do we know about the rollout . We are waiting for further details but we about the rollout . We are waiting forfurther details but we knew before today that the nhs had been put on standby, hospitals, to set up facilities to administer the vaccine from next week. They were expecting it to be available from next week and now they know it will be available. The reason for hospitals being the first port of call for the first shipments of the vaccine from the pfizer belgian factory, is the storage logistics. It has to be stored at 70, 80 degrees and there are administrative issues so hospitals are best equipped to do that. It seems likely it will be nhs staff and patients first and possibly care home workers. But the
initial list of priorities, and matt hancock was referring to it, had ca re hancock was referring to it, had care home residents and staff as top priority, followed by health and ca re priority, followed by health and care workers, priority, followed by health and ca re workers, followed priority, followed by health and care workers, followed by the over 80s. Care workers, followed by the over 805. A care workers, followed by the over 80s. A little detail on who else will get it and when, i think we need to wait and see. But it is very exciting news that from next week the uk will be the first country in the uk will be the first country in the world to administer this Pfizer Biontech vaccine and it will be a reality, very exciting when we got the trial results in early november and now it will be a reality from next week. But it has to be said, it can only be rolled out at a certain place, so the idea a lot of people will get it across the Wider Population before new year, i think is not right. The Health Secretary said this morning that this would be deployed at the speed it is manufactured. It is being manufactured. It is being manufactured in belgium, so can you talk more about the challenges, because as we all know very well now, this particular vaccine, and
there are a few in the offing, but this particular one has to be stored at incredibly low temperatures. Yes, the uk government had initially ordered up to 10 million doses before the new year. I am told it will not be that many, fewer than that. Because of the timeframes involved. But it will start off with 800,000 next week, and presumably mmp 800,000 next week, and presumably ramp upa 800,000 next week, and presumably ramp up a little bit from there before the new year. And that low temperature is quite a big issue for getting it out there to create jobs and actually be delivered, and thats why hospitals are seen as the best hubs for doing it. This may create jabs. Then you have a wider system set up of gp hubs and local authorities working with nhs officials to create Vaccination Centres around the country. Its not clear whether they will get any of the pfizer doses and it seems more
likely they are waiting for the 0xford astrazeneca, the other main contender at the moment, which is still being assessed by the mhra regulator. We are waiting to see if it does get approval, but it has been ordered on a much bigger scale by the government, and that is much easier to administer and it is cheaper. Then we have the Us Company Moderna with its vaccine, that has passed its trials and is going through the regulators, but that will not be available until the spring. Health editor hugh pym, thank you. And later this morning well answer your questions on the approval of the pfizer and biontech Coronavirus Vaccine. You can send your questions to us on twitter, using the hashtag bbc your questions or by email on yourquestions bbc. Co. Uk. Thats coming up at 11 30 here on bbc news. Some of the very first people to receive the vaccine will be frontline nhs workers. So, lets speak to one of them. Dr Ian Higginson is Vice President
of the Royal College of emergency medicine and joins me now. Very good to have you with us today with this exciting news. Let me talk about the general roll first with matt hancock mentioning three types of location for this. Hospitals, Vaccination Centres, and Community Roll out. Are we looking primarily at hospitals in the first instance because of the challenge of storing this vaccine at very low temperatures . Thats my understanding. I think we are learning about this as we go along, as you are. Our understanding in the nhs is that because of the logistics, the best place to start is in hospitals, because we have the facilities to safely store the vaccine and organise how to get it to people. Those people of course being your colleagues on the front line of the nhs. Yes, thats right. I think it is right Health Care Workers are up the priority list. We
would be delighted if they vaccine could be rolled out to those really vulnerable groups, particularly residents in care homes and Nursing Homes first, but Health Workers will be pleased that we are high up on the list, because if we are patients then we cant treat patients. In terms of confidence in the vaccine, because questions have been raised, if front line Health Care Workers are happy to use this, doesnt that Say Something . Yes, it will do. As Emergency Physicians we very much rely on the incredible science that has gone into this, and the scientists that have made these vaccines for the safety and efficacy, but we will of course be pleased to have some protection against this awful disease so we can continue to do ourjob safely and effectively in hospitals. We are talking at around 50 hospitals being on standby ready to receive the vaccine so do you know if it will be
rolled out in those 50 simultaneously, and can you tell us of any hospitals you know for sure will take delivery of some stock of the vaccine . Im sorry, the details have not been revealed to me at this stage. 0k, fair enough. Iwould love to talk to you then about the challenges of actually delivering the vaccine to large numbers of people. Health care workers doing that, and yet all the otherjobs that, and yet all the otherjobs that have to take place in hospitals, gp surgeries, etc, that have to go on as well so how challenging will that be and will you be able to do both of those things simultaneously . There will be different challenges in different parts of the health care sector. In hospitals we are perhaps better set up hospitals we are perhaps better set up because we have access to lots of different stuff that we can train to do this, so i think the opportunity for doing it at the same time will be bigger. Make different staff. It will be more challenging in general care as gp colleagues have indicated and i will leave them to talk about it. There is no doubt it
will be challenging. Even the Flu Vaccination Programme is challenging every year to do well and do right, but im sure this will be tricky, but im sure this will be tricky, but the nhs is a fantastic service and we will rise to this challenge. Does this feel like a turning point to you . It feels a bit like potentially the beginning of the end. We are keen that people do not drop their guard, the disease is still out there now, people are getting infected now and they are getting infected now and they are getting very sick with it right now. So stick with the rules, but we are hopeful this is the journey out of it and emergency doctors around the country and around the world will be pleased if that is the case. A really Important Message that people should still be very careful. Vice president of the college of emergency medicine, thank you. We can get further reaction to the news of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine approval. Professor Irene Petersen is an epidemiologist at the University College london and joins me now. How excited are you about this . How excited are you about thi57m is the best news i could wake up to this morning. I think many people have been looking forward to this vaccine. It will open up society again and im really excited. Talk to us about the efficacy of the vaccine and the safety of it. It has obviously been approved by the medicines regulator but i understand it has not been Peer Reviewed yet so can you explain to viewers what exactly that means. It means that the company has sent the safety data to the medical health regulators and they have looked at the data and they have looked at the data and they have looked at the data and they have approved it. Typically, when you have new medicines or new vaccines, we would also like a scientific paper that would be submitted to one of the leading medical journals,
submitted to one of the leading medicaljournals, where other scientists and medical experts will review the data and scrutinise it before the paper is published. And i am sure that process will also happen for this vaccine. What will happen for this vaccine. What will happen now is we have received emergency approval of the vaccine, taking into account the situation, so there will be further approval later on. But do you feel confident about where we are at with it . Yes, i do. About where we are at with it . Yes, ido. I about where we are at with it . Yes, i do. I know the people who will be conducting this regulation, and they are no spring chickens, it is their job to approve medicines and vaccines, and in particular with vaccines, and in particular with vaccines you have to be very careful. It is theirjob to be careful, so i am very confident. Careful. It is theirjob to be careful, so i am very confidentlj am careful, so i am very confident.
am interested to get your thoughts about, with this vaccine being rolled out from next week and others hopefully on their way to being approved as well, in combination with the restrictions and measures we have in place in the uk, at what point do you then reach a Tipping Point do you then reach a Tipping Point where you can say that we are getting on top of this and we can begin to start to return to normal . It is difficult to say, because it isa it is difficult to say, because it is a new vaccine, but i think what is a new vaccine, but i think what is important to understand is the vaccine will help us get this famous r number down. Thats what we need to have. With all the other measures, and we still need to be cautious about keeping distance, and all the other thing is, until the vaccine is widely rolled out because then we will be able to get the r number so low that the risk of
getting infected going about daily life will be very, very low. But that requires that we also take the vaccine, not only for our own sake, but also for our friends and families and it will help us. Are some people have mentioned to me, andi some people have mentioned to me, and i dont know what you make of this particular argument, of course it makes absolute sense that health ca re it makes absolute sense that Health Care Workers, on the front line, and people most vulnerable to the virus perhaps get the vaccination first, but other people are making the argument that it also makes sense from their perspective that the more economically active people who will be out in society more should get it first. What do you make of that argument . I think of course we should give it to the most vulnerable and we need also to give it to Health Care Workers who are going to look after us. We need to make sure they survive. But then act the next step, we can discuss different priorities, for example,
people who are more out and about, can get the vaccine, people who are able to work at home may come later in line. The key question is that we get on top of the vaccine as soon as possible. Thank you for your thoughts today, professor irene peterson, epidemiologist from University College london. At 10am we will be live in downing street where the chief executive of the medicines regulator, the mhra, drjune raine, will set out more details about the decision to approve the pfizer and biontech Coronavirus Vaccine. The Prime Minister will host todays Coronavirus Briefing from downing street. We wil bring you that live in a special programme from 4. 30 here on the bbc news channel. Lets talk now to our Political Correspondent, iain watson. Joining us from westminster. Before this announcement about the vaccine we we re this announcement about the vaccine we were expecting to talk about the conservative mps who voted against their party on the new tier system introduced in england today. But we are talking about the vaccine, which will come as welcome relief for the Prime Minister stop youll absolutely, it might well end up inoculating him against some political fallout. 55 of his own mps rebelled last night on the vote on introducing the tier system in england. Ten of them were former cabinet ministers. The prime minster will be help today because his message and the message from the Health Secretary is that help is on its way, to use the borisjohnson metaphor, the cavalry is coming over the brow of the hill. If we can see a vaccine be approved it might be possible other vaccines are approved and therefore getting life back to Something Like normal by easter
might be possible, so therefore although lots of people have got problems with the restrictions being imposed, the message from downing street and from the Health Secretary as well is basically to be patient, hold on, abide by the rules for the time being because this will not last forever. To some extent, i think thatll spike some of the criticism that has been made of borisjohnson. Medically, criticism that has been made of boris johnson. Medically, it criticism that has been made of borisjohnson. Medically, it is especially very good news indeed. But it brings its own challenges, so the government might now be judged on different sets of criteria, not just about restrictions but about how we come out of those restrictions, how effective, for example, will be rolled out of the vaccines be . They will be logistical challenges because the Pfizer Vaccine has to be stored at 70 degrees so some Community Vaccinations which could take place if the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine is approved may not be possible with the american vaccine. In addition to
that, there will also have to be a different focus for the governments persuasion. Yesterday, borisjohnson was desperately trying to persuade his own mps to get on the side, he had zoom meetings with them, calls and pleas for unity and all the rest of it. Now the persuasion will have to be redirected, and it will be trying to convince people that now the vaccine is here and has been approved by the uk ahead of any other country, head of the eu and the united states, that it is indeed safe to have that vaccine and begin this process of coming out of these restrictions. Thats why i think the Health Secretary this morning was emphasising very much that our regulator, the mhra, is very, very rigorous and is completely independent from government. Those will be the challenges ahead, getting the vaccine from the lab to the arm, convincing people to have the arm, convincing people to have the vaccine, and hearing about a system that prioritises those in clinical need so they are vaccinated
first, those are the challenges now rather than party unity, which was the challenge 2a hours ago. Rather than party unity, which was the challenge 24 hours ago. Iain watson at westminster, thank you for snapa watson at westminster, thank you for snap a couple of comments, Judith Harris asks, as a supermarket worker, will we be high up the list for the vaccine . Another question, further to the announcement from the vaccine, im interested to know if someone who has received the vaccine might test positive for a while after being vaccinated. And another viewer, will people on the High Risk Group get vaccinations in the first batch even if they are under 80 . We expect to get more detail on the prioritisation and exactly who will get the vaccine and in what order. The Health Secretary suggested that would be coming out, that information, in a bit more detail today. Hopefully the answers to some of those questions and we also have your questions answered at 11 30am. England has returned to a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions, after the National Lockdown ended at midnight. More than 55 Million People are living in the strictest two tiers where mixing with other households indoors is banned. The measures were voted in yesterday, despite the Prime Minister suffering the biggest rebellion by his own mps since coming into office. From today more than 23 Million People are now in the highest tier tier 3. Theres no socialising indoors or in private gardens. Pubs and restaurants can only do takeaways. More than 32 million find themselves in tier 2. Again no mixing indoors but up to six people can meet outdoors. And you can go to restaurants or pubs that serve substantial meals with people you live with. Tier1 has the lightest restrictions, but fewer than three quarters of a Million People are in this tier where up to six people from different households can socialise indoors and outdoors. Our first report from our Political Correspondent jonathan blake. With the end of a National Lockdown in england comes a new three tier
system of restrictions to get used to. From this morning, 99 of the population is under the higher two levels of controls for at least the next two weeks. Heres how the new system of restrictions will work. Shops, gyms and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen across the country. In tier 1, the lowest level of restrictions, groups of up to six people will be able to meet indoors or outdoors. Pubs and restaurants can reopen, with last orders at ten oclock and closing at 11pm. In tier 2, groups of up to six people will still be able to meet outdoors but not indoors unless in a support bubble. Pubs can only reopen if they are operating as a restaurant, and alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal. And in the highest level of restrictions, pubs and restaurants will be forced to provide takeaway only, and there will be no mixing of households except up to six
people in public outdoor spaces like parks. So the ayes have it, the ayes have it. Last night, mps approved the plans, but not without a struggle. 55 conservatives voted against the government, the biggest backbench rebellion of borisjohnsons time as Prime Minister. Its passed with a majority of well over 200, its a very important set of regulations to help the uk bridge into the spring when we hope a vaccine will move us into a whole different place. And the reason that these regulations mattered is it allows us to move to a tiered approach which, backed up by Mass Community testing, will help us keep control of the virus and avoid another lockdown. While the new tiers are stricter in some ways, theres plenty you can now do wherever you live in england that might make it feel like a return to Something Like life as normal. In another major change, people will be able to visit relatives in care homes. New guidance states that contact will be allowed in all three tiers
if those visiting have tested negative for the virus. Questions continue about the impact of restrictions, though. The labour leader sir keir starmer has challenged the government to publish more details of the Economic Impact of control measures as many businesses face uncertain weeks and months ahead. Jonathan blake, bbc news. Paul white runs the thatched inn pub in ilfracombe near exeter in devon which is now in tier two. His pub has been closed in lockdown and will not reopen this week because of the new restrictions. You could reopen but you are not, so why not . I have decided that through the health and safety for staff and customers, and also from a. Inaudible its not worth opening up at the moment and is not right for me to open. You say because of health and
safety reasons for your staff. Thats really interesting because when we have done interviews with lots of other people in the hospitality sector, they have felt it is really safe and the measures they have put in place should allow people to feel really confident about working or coming to these settings as customers. Why do you cite health and safety concerns . 0nly purely because of our being. Inaudible 0ur pub is the safest place to be. We have put everything in. Inaudible iam inaudible i am sorry, we are having a lot of drop out with the line. We will see if we can get a better want to talk to you properly. I hope we can return to you in a few minutes if possible. 0ur planet is broken thats the warning the secretary general of the United Nations will give today when he outlines that tackling Global Warming is now the central objective of the un. In a special bbc broadcast, antonio guterres. Also says there is no vaccine for the planet. Heres our chief environment correspondent, justin rowlatt. 2020 has been a year of dramatic weather extremes. Greenhouse gas concentrations are still rising in the atmosphere, despite the covid 19lockdowns, says the head of the United Nations. In a speech to be broadcast later today exclusively on bbc news, un secretary general antonio guterres, will say there is no vaccine for the planet. Biodiversity is collapsing, deserts are spreading, oceans are choking with plastic waste, and apocalyptic fires and floods, cyclones and hurricanes are the new normal. Terrible wildfires raged across australia, burning vast areas. And there were huge wildfires in california, and even arctic siberia. The un secretary general says the world now faces a moment of truth. Every country, city, Financial Institution and company should adopt plans for transition to net zero emissions by 2050. And take Decisive Action now to put themselves on the right path. It is five years since the world came together in paris to agree, for the first time, that every nation needs to play a part in tackling Climate Change. Some progress has been made, but not enough, according to the un secretary general. Mr guterres will say economic pressure should be used to help curb emissions. It is time that those who pollute the atmosphere with Greenhouse Gases pay a price for that pollution, he will say. He will urge countries to end all subsidies for fossil fuels, and will say that taxes should move from income to carbon. It is a bold agenda,
putting tackling Climate Change at the very heart of the United Nations role. But the science is clear. The secretary general will say unless the world reduces emissions, we face disaster. Justin rowlatt, bbc news. And you can hear the speech from the un secretary general on our special programme state of the planet at 8 30pm this evening here on the bbc news channel. Antonio guterres will also be joined by climate activists from around the world, including sir david attenborough. Now its time for a look at the weather. We had a bright and early cold start in the south and east but the cloud is moving south with this patchy
rain, behind it, sunshine and showers being blown in on a brisk rinse with strongest wind being across the north west of scotland and snow on the hills. Further snow on the hills of scotland in the course of the in ring and overnight. By course of the in ring and overnight. By the end of the night, on tops of hills we could have ten centimetres of lying snow. At lower levels, the potential to centimetres. For Northern Ireland, england and wales, thick cloud and rain coming our way so there is the risk of ice in the north and also some frost. Tomorrow, if anything, we see fewer showers as we go through the day but still the potential for some of them to be wintry. Meanwhile, a band of cloud and rain moving east and north across england and wales with brisk winds in the English Channel and wherever you are, it is going to feel cold. Good morning, this is bbc news. The headlines. Pfizers vaccine has been approved
by regulators for use in the uk and could be rolled out across the country next week. It will start with the most elderly and with people in care homes. And of course, their carers, to make sure that others dont catch it. Englands tier system has made a comeback, but with toughened measures. More than 55 Million People are living in the strictest two tiers. Non essential shops in england are set to reopen today. Businesses are hoping for a flood of customers to provide a much needed boost in the run up to christmas. People with relatives in care homes in england will be allowed to see them indoors from today. The government is distributing more than a million rapid tests, so that families returning negative results can be cleared to visit. And grassroots sport resumes today with gyms, pools and leisure centres reopening. That is a neat segue to sports. Lets go to the charlton athletic
ground, how do you, cat. Wrapped up warmly. You are there because some actual fans will be returning to the stadiums tonight. Yes, thats right, a long anticipated wait for grounds and clubs across the country today. It depends on which tier you find yourself in. In tier 3, still no fa ns allowed yourself in. In tier 3, still no fans allowed in stadium. In london, we are at this stage, 2,000 fans will be here to watch them take on mk dons in the lead tonight. Lots of protocols in place to make the save. They will come through the concourse, through the turnstiles, that temperatures will be taken. When they come into the stands, if you come down here, you can see how the seating arrangement is going to
work. Household bubbles can statically sit together, but charlton will space out their fans even more so there are three chairs between each fan, those with the green text, the fans can set there. They will be spread out around the three stands, the covered and the east stand will have fans. Surround sound when the players come out onto the pitch later. It has been a mammoth pass to get these measures in place. Mammoth task. Earlier on, i spoke to charltons commercial director wayne mumford, who told me its been quite a task putting everything in place. We have a big problem in the fact that a lot of our fans are from kent and they are tier 3 and we had to tell them first, sorry, you cant come. Then it is about which of our fa ns come. Then it is about which of our fans can come. We told anybody above 70 if they wanted to up out or n, so that was a challenge. So we then went through all that process. We then did a ballot for the season ticket holders. So that, fans were
disappointed again. We have 2,000 fa ns disappointed again. We have 2,000 fans coming tonight, so now it is about the journey and getting them here safely, getting them seated safely, listening to the covid rules and enjoying the game. You know . Lets bring you up to date with last nights Champions League action, and liverpool are through to the knockout stage, thanks to an absolute howler from the ajax goalkeeper at anfield. He completely misjudged a cross, allowing curtisjones to tap in the ball for the only goal of the match. So with a game to spare, liverpool are assured of top spot in their group. Manchester city have also won their group, after a goalless draw in porto, although its a mystery how they managed not to score here. Northern irelands women have made history, securing a play off place for the euros in 2022. They went behind to the Faroe Islands in belfast
before coming back to win 5 1 kirstie mcguinness with a great goal to put them ahead. Her sister caitlin also scored. That result means that wales are out, despite beating belarus, and scotlands chances are also over after they lost to finland. But Northern Ireland are still on track to reach their first major tournament. All i can say is our dreams have come true tonight. Ever since we we re come true tonight. Ever since we were young girls, we have played the game. Two years ago, three years ago, this was an impossible dream for us. And tonight, we went out and we done it. We are in the play off, our dreams we done it. We are in the play off, ourdreams are we done it. We are in the play off, our dreams are kept alive. Ijust wa nt every our dreams are kept alive. Ijust want every young girl to know, dream big, anything is possible. Two years ago, this was a dream that we would never have thought possible and we made possible tonight. Its been confirmed that the british driver George Russell will replace Lewis Hamilton at this weekends sakhir grand prix. Russell is with the williams team, but mercedes have guided his career
since 2017, and williams have agreed to release him. Another englishman, jack aitken, will take russells place in bahrain hell be making his f1 debut. Hamilton was ruled out of the race after testing positive for covid 19. Englands dawid malan has attained the highest ever icc ratings points for a batsman in mens t20 history, with his performance in the nine run victory over south africa in cape town. They were set a big target of 192 by the home side, but they made light work of it, malan hitting a magnificent 99 not out, as they completed a 3 0 series whitewash. That took england back to the top of the t20 world rankings. The sides begin their one day series at the same ground on friday. That is all the spot, huge anticipation at charlton and at
grounds around the country starting from today as fans can return to stadium. Extra bonus for the guys turning up here to watch later on is that they get a free hot chocolate on arrival. It might be needed, judging by the Weather Forecast kat, thank you very much for that, from charlton athletics ground. Lets return now to news that the covid 19 vaccine made by pfizer and biontech has been approved by regulators for use in the uk. The Health Secretary, matt hancock, said it meant that, after a terrible year, we could now say with certainty that help was on its way. So, how does the Pfizer Vaccine and, indeed, othervaccines work in protecting people against the virus . Heres our health correspondent, james gallagher. Vaccines are being developed at unprecedented speed. Ten years of work has been condensed into around ten months. More than 200 vaccines
are being researched, and the most advanced are starting to produce results. So, how do they work . Well, first of all, i want to point out something on the coronavirus itself. This is known as the spike protein, and thats what most vaccines are training your body to attack. Now, there are broadly four different approaches being used to make Coronavirus Vaccines. The first kills, or inactivates, the coronavirus and then injects it into people. This triggers the immune response, but without causing an infection. The second approach takes the spike proteins from the coronavirus and just injects that. These are tried and trusted methods of making vaccines, but theyre slow to get up and running. A faster and more experimental style of vaccine takes a common cold virus. Its genetically modified to stop it causing an infection, and then again to give it the blueprints for making the spike protein from the coronavirus. This is the technique being pioneered by the university of oxford, so youll have heard about that in the news
a lot in the past week. Now, the final approach is something quite new. Part of the genetic code here of the coronavirus is injected inside patients. Once there, it starts making copies of that spike protein, which the body learns to react to. This is how pfizer and moderna have developed their potent vaccines. And to be honest, we need all of these techniques at the moment, because we still dont know which will prove to be best. Now the crucial question who might actually get the vaccine . Well, this is the draft priority list drawn up by thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation. Right at the top are People Living and working in care homes. The Vaccination Programme will then prioritise people with age, with hospital staff and people with some medical conditions also getting jabbed. And this is why. Each of these icons represents 1,000 deaths in the first wave of the pandemic, and look at it. You can just see how many deaths there were in care homes
and in the older age groups. The government hopes that by vaccinating all these people, then 99 of those at risk of dying from covid would be protected. We can speak to a doctor who has been working in intensive care wards during the pandemic and has a focus on global health, doctor qureshi, it is good to have you with us. This vaccine has been produced at phenomenal speed, how do you feel about the news this morning . phenomenal speed, how do you feel about the news this morning . I am really, really excited and relieved. For months and months, my life has changed, i have gone into hospital, not knowing what level of risk i am going to be at when it comes to coronavirus and our lives on a day to day basis are completely unlivable for people. This vaccine is hope, this vaccine is a promise to come out of this and i, for one, will be first in the queue to get it
when it is offered. You will be first in the queue and obviously, healthcare workers naturally and quite rightly it will be prioritised. That says something to people who look at this news and think, a vaccine, this is wonderful. But they may have concerns about the safety a nd but they may have concerns about the safety and the efficacy of it. If Health Care Workers like yourself are saying you are very happy to be first ina are saying you are very happy to be first in a queue, people should feel reassured, shouldnt they . first in a queue, people should feel reassured, shouldnt they . I have taken reassured, shouldnt they . I have ta ke n every reassured, shouldnt they . I have taken every vaccine offered to me in my life. I have never had a major side effect. And one of the first things i did when i found out about this vaccine is i spoke to my mum and said if she got the call from the nhs, that i really want her to ta ke the nhs, that i really want her to take the vaccine. We have a vaccine that has been trailed in 44,000 people, that has 95 effectiveness of reducing coronavirus and no obvious major side effects across a wide range of age, ethnicity and gender. This is really promising and
we should move forward with it. know you say the roll out should be accompanied by a very careful monitoring process of each individual who gets it. Will that be built into this roll out, do you know . Look, the mhra regularly introduce safety warnings and monitor the side effects of medications that come in. We get notifications in hospital saying, and new concern has been identified about a certain drug, be cautious about a certain drug, be cautious about it, switch people off that drug. We do it on a regular basis. But we coronavirus particularly, the level of scrutiny of scientific papers and has never been higher. And also, the involvement of citizens in reporting their own symptoms, in communicating it to social media, mainstream media, newspapers, is greater than ever. We will get better data on this vaccine
than any vaccine before. So if there isa than any vaccine before. So if there is a problem, it is likely to come up is a problem, it is likely to come up very quickly. Really interesting to talk to you today, thank you very much, dr zeshan qureshi. We can speak now to our correspondent in berlin. The Health Secretary in the uk matt hancock saying this vaccine will be deployed here at the speed it is manufactured in belgium, so give us an idea if you can about the capacity manufacturing plant has. Yes, well, this is a very interesting company, it isa this is a very interesting company, it is a 22 start up based in mainz, set up by a german and turkish couple, the ceo came to germany from turkey when he was four years old. He became a doctor and a very famous
wee church is research. His wife is also a scientist. Together in 2001, they set up the small firm, biontech, and it has grown. It has about 1,500 employees but until the beginning of this year, it was a relatively small farmer company. There are many in germany. As soon as the pandemic became known in china, the first cases became known, the couple decided to switch all their Cancer Research into developing a vaccine. Nine months later, suddenly, this vaccine hits the news worldwide and becomes the lead vaccine. And now, it has been authorised in the uk, which is a remarkable step for the company which describes it as an historic step. Being backed by the us pharma jane pfizer, but it comes from this relatively Small Company in biontech. For delivery, there are a few technical hitches, it has to be
stored at a very low level, one challenge is how do you get it to britain . There is a main Manufacturing Base in belgium, but also one in germany. The Company Biontech says they have already started producing a lot of this vaccine, it is ready to go. They said yesterday, within hours of authorisation, it would be ready to be delivered. So already now, imaginea brie, be delivered. So already now, imagine a brie, biontech and pfizer are starting to deliver this, the logistics are being setup, all of which means by next week, if the logistics work well, it can be delivered by Health Care Providers in the uk. And i am presuming the fa ct in the uk. And i am presuming the fact that the uk is getting this first before other countries in europe is simply because the medicines regulator here has approved it while regulators in other countries havent yet . Yes, thatis other countries havent yet . Yes, that is a bit of a debate here in germany, but that is because of two different systems. In the uk, there is an emergency approval system which you can go down, which is what
the uk government has done. In a eu, germany would fall into that category, in the eu, there is no such emergency provision, there is a provisional authorisation and that is the root over the next few weeks in germany and the eu, the european regulator will go down that route. Some german lawmakers have said the british approach is far too quick, you have got to be more careful really with new technology, you dont want to undermine trust. But it is simply more to do with the different regulatory systems. The next step in germany and across the eu is in about a week and a half, there will be a public hearing about there will be a public hearing about the biontech vaccine, that is public because they want to increase transparency and make the process as trustworthy as possible to boost trustworthy as possible to boost trust in the vaccine. And by the end of the month, if all goes well, it should be admitted in the eu, which means by january, the should be admitted in the eu, which means byjanuary, the first should be admitted in the eu, which means by january, the first people, the first groups in the population
in germany should start to be vaccinated and the broader population, that process will start probably be completed or be in full flow really more like spring. So we are talking really about a whole yea rs are talking really about a whole years processor vaccinations in the uk, but also in germany and across the eu. So really lot here are saying whether one regulator is a few weeks ahead of another it doesnt matter in the grand scheme of things. Of course, it is a great Prestige Point for the uk to be the first country to authorise this particular vaccine, which does look like the most trustworthy we have seen so far, and also the first country to start vaccinating people. So certainly good news for british consumers. Thank you very much, from bell n. Clearly a very hard working couple behind this vaccine. I was interested to lead on their wedding day in 2002, according to reports, the pair only briefly left their work at the lab to attend the
registry office. An important briefing at ten oclock which we will bring you here on the news channel. We had the Health Secretary earlier, matt hancock, saying more information would be coming out today about the approval process for this Pfizer Biontech vaccine. So we are going to hear from doctorjean raine, a chief executive of the mhra, the medicines approval organisation, also the chair of the commission on human medicine expert working group, professor muhammad, and the chair of thejoint professor muhammad, and the chair of the joint committee on professor muhammad, and the chair of thejoint committee on vaccinations and immunisation. They will cover this mornings announcement of the approvalfor the this mornings announcement of the approval for the Pfizer Biontech, covid 19 vaccine. More about the process for approving it and possibly we dont know for sure yet, more detail on how it will be
decided exactly who is going to get this vaccine first. So that is at ten oclock, coming up live on the bbc news channel. All non essential shops in england can reopen today, as the National Lockdown has ended. But with the news of arcadia and debenhams falling, what does this mean for the high street and Retail Shopping . According to the british retail consortium, prices in shops are tumbling in the run up to christmas, as the crisis on britains high streets worsens. Our business presenter is on Oxford Street now. Just a couple of people behind you, iam just a couple of people behind you, i am interested to find out whether there has been the sort of pick up in trade that those physical shops have been hoping for . Well, we are not seeing any signs of that here this morning. The primark behind me did open early doors, it will close
at 11pm and there are Primark Stores around the company staying open for 24 hours. Retailers are keen to make up 24 hours. Retailers are keen to make upfor 24 hours. Retailers are keen to make up for that lost ground incurred during the lockdown period, that is ending today, that has ended today. As you said, some shops are plummeting their prices, change get people to come in and to buy their products. If you gojust people to come in and to buy their products. If you go just down people to come in and to buy their products. If you gojust down here on bond street on the right hand side, some small boutiques also reducing their prices, again to attract people. To speak to me this, iamjoined by attract people. To speak to me this, i am joined by amber grassland, a fashion commentator. Thank you for coming on. We know some stores are keeping their doors open for longer hours to try and get a bigger footfall, do you think that could make upfor footfall, do you think that could make up for lost ground . Retailers rely on the three months in the build up to christmas to make up the bulk of their retail sales, so we have really got a month in the run up to christmas. Will they make up run up to christmas. Will they make up for it . Im not sure, you
mentioned the discounting, there are serious bargains to be had for consumers because retailers, shops are seasonal. The shops in the stock now are seasonal. The shops in the stock now the stock in the shops now, they have been gathering dust for months, so they need to shift it. Along Oxford Street this morning, the sale signs up so that a serious bargains to be had. Many people havent been in work during this very difficult period, do you think they have pennies in their pockets to spend in shops like this question but i think everybody is really going to be considering what they spend this year, so maybe the discounts will entice some people out that the thinking of not paying as much. We have to wait and see what happens. Will they make up for the three month period they have lost . Im not sure. Talking about smaller shops that have reduced prices, is that a risky option for them . It is risky because margins are smaller and they will make less money, but this is christmas and autumn and winter stuck and in january and february, they wont be
selling that stuck so it is better to cut their losses and get rid of it now. Arcadia has gone into administration and we heard yesterday at debenhams in the quotation had today debenhams is a virtual queue, with people trying to buy a lot of their produce that has been put at discount levels, what does that say about consumers . Consumers are worried about money and watching what they spend, they can see the bargains and the dublin sale is amazing, i looked online yesterday, there are great bargains. We are all in Uncertain Times and uncertainty effects Consumer Behaviour and people are watching what they spend. So the people with the biggest discounts, probably they will do the best in the run up to christmas. Thank you, amber graafland. This is europes busiest streets, but it really doesnt feel like that this morning. Yes, there are people going into the shop, we have shops across the road, some of them are still closed and some have opened but seem to be empty, so perhaps Consumer Confidence is still an issue. Lets see how it pans out
throughout the day. Thank you. Sima kotecha, thank you very much, on Oxford Street in london. And more grim news for the high street, fashion chain by marchais has collapsed into administration for the second time in just over a year. That news just coming into us, i have been glancing at the bonmarche twitter account, their most recent tweet saying stores have recently reopened, but administrators saying fashion chain macro 3 has collapsed into administration for the second time injust over a year. Fashion chain bonmarche. The us attorney general says his department has not found any proof to back up President Trumps claims of widespread voter fraud in the president ial election. Mr trump and his campaign filed lawsuits in states that he lost, as they began certifying joe biden as the winner. Heres our north america correspondent, peter bowes. A political friendship that could be wearing thin. We do not allow judgments to be reached. William barr has been a staunch ally of donald trump,
which is why his views as the countrys top Law Enforcement officer carry special weight. Now he says working with fbi agents, theyve uncovered no evidence that would change the outcome of the election. And he added. As news emerged of the attorney generals comments, it appears President Trump was engrossed in his twitter account, live tweeting a hearing in michigan in which his personal lawyer, rudy giuliani, was submitting further unsubstantiated claims about the election. With the president still apparently obsessing over and denying the election result, joe biden is getting on with building his team for government. Good afternoon, everyone. The president elect says his top priority will be dealing with the coronavirus, and jump starting the economy. Were going to create jobs, raise incomes, reduce drug prices,
advance Racial Equity across the economy, and restore the backbone of this country the middle class. Our message to everybody struggling right now is this help is on the way. Right now, the us has soaring numbers of new cases. New yorkers returned home from the thanksgiving holiday, only to queue for hours as they waited to be tested for the virus. Everyones hoping the vaccine will be available soon. It could be in the next two weeks. Peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. The National History museum is asking for your help to judge its photography award. You can see only one red squirrel inside this nesting box, but there are two. The photographer at Neal Anderson fitted the bucs with a remote camera and a
debt problem and a dimmable light, how gorgeous how gorgeous, how cosy this one is called hare ball, and you can see why. The photographer Andy Parkinson spent five weeks in the Scottish Highlands waiting to capture a Perfect Moment with the mountain hares. And heres a much closer relationship between human and animal. This one shows a Wildlife Rescue worker caring for three bats known as grey headed flying foxes who had been orphaned in australia. You can vote for your favourite image on the natural History Museum website. That is only three of them, there are that is only three of them, there a re lots that is only three of them, there are lots and i dont know how they will choose the winner out of those amazing images. Now its time for a look at the weather. Todays weather will be fairly quiet, but turning colderfrom the north and the west. Over the next few days and nights, the cold air moves few days and nights, the cold air m oves a cross few days and nights, the cold air moves across the uk. It will be accompanied by rain for some of us and also snow for us. The snow mostly and also snow for us. The snow m ostly o n and also snow for us. The snow mostly on the hills, but in some heavier best, we could see that even
at lower levels. This mornings early brightness eradicated by this band of cloud and rain singing southwards and eastwards. Sunshine and showers behind it, blustery showers driven in on a brisk wind, the strongest winds across the final west of scotland. With the cold air, increasingly through the day, the snow level on the hills of scotland comes down to about 300 metres. Look at the temperature in stornoway, only three degrees. This evening and overnight, we say goodbye to this band of cloud and rain, there will be some clear skies. But further snow showers and by the end of tonight, to Higher Ground in scotland, we could have about ten centimetres of centimetres of lying snow and at lower levels, potentially two centimetres. We have this cloud and rain piling on across england and wales. The Brecon Beacons and the Shropshire Hills could also see snow. Watch out for ice vesting across the north. And we have all this rain moving eastwards and way is with brisk winds through the English Channel. Fewer showers across western scotland and northern
ireland today. It could still be wintry and you could see a little of that at lower levels. By the end of the afternoon, snow across the hills of North West Wales and north west england. Overnight, we still do have this band of rain and at its western flank, it could deposit snow across the chilterns and the downs and you might seea the chilterns and the downs and you might see a dust investing. At the same time, we have the rain and the snow across northern england, moving across parts of scotland, some of this could also be at lower levels by the time you wake up first thing on friday morning. During friday, we had the snow and rain to say goodbye to ask it drifts westwards. A new band of rain coming in across the east. In its leading edge, likely to see snow predominantly on the hills. And in the north of the country, looking at brisk winds, so it will feel cold. The jays conditions in the south west. Even so here, it will also feel cold. That cold theme continues during the weekend. The driest day looks like being sunday. This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Pfizers vaccine has been approved by regulators for use in the uk and could be rolled out across the country next week. Well start with the most elderly, and with people in care homes, and of course their carers, to make sure that others dont catch it. The uk expects to have millions of doses of the Pfizer Vaccine against covid 19 available by the end of the year, and the first 800,000 coming next week. Englands tier system has made a comeback but with toughened measures. More than 55 Million People are living in the strictest two tiers. Our planet is broken. Thats the warning coming from the secretary general of the United Nations. In a special bbc broadcast,
antonio guterres will talk